Celebration is a woman-to-woman ministry of sharing, encouraging, discipling, and mentoring in the faith. Our focus is presenting the truth and beauty of the message of salvation, healing, renewal, and restoration in a manner that reaches the inner-woman
Our Theme Scripture
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
Luke 4:18-19 NKJV
Luke 4:18-19 NKJV
Our Vision
Purpose
The purpose of Celebration is to strengthen and enrich the spiritual lives of women by helping them discover and grow in the fullness of life that God intended for all women to experience as citizens of His Kingdom on earth and as a foretaste of His Kingdom in Heaven.
This is a woman-to-woman ministry of sharing, encouraging, discipling, and mentoring in the faith. Its focus is presenting the truth and beauty of the message of salvation, healing, renewal, and restoration in a manner that reaches the inner-woman.
Celebration is not a para-church organization. It will always encourage and expect its members to fully participate in the local church.
Mission
Celebration’s mission is to serve as a covenant of grace for all women who seek to discover their freedom and healing in Christ through sharing in experiences of praise and worship, personal witness, and testimony, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship.
Goal
Our goal is to spread the message and assurance of salvation to women in the church who may know about Jesus but who have not claimed Him as personal Savior and Lord.
Releasing the power of God for freedom, healing, and transformation in the lives of women by offering opportunities for sharing the experiences and expressions of faith with other women.
Discipling women in their journey of faith so that they are drawn into an ever deepening relationship with God and live a joy-filled life.
Evangelizing and reaching out to other women in the community in the name of Christ by testifying to the truth of the Gospel message.
Releasing the power of God for freedom, healing, and transformation in the lives of women by offering opportunities for sharing the experiences and expressions of faith with other women.
Discipling women in their journey of faith so that they are drawn into an ever deepening relationship with God and live a joy-filled life.
Evangelizing and reaching out to other women in the community in the name of Christ by testifying to the truth of the Gospel message.
We Believe
- God is the Creator of all things.
- All persons are created in the image of God.
- All persons are sinful and need Christ for salvation.
- Sin causes alienation from God and personal brokenness.
- Jesus is the only way to wholeness and restoration of relationship with God.
- Jesus is the Son of God, born by the power of the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary.
- Prayer is communication with God, and it results in the deepening of our relationship with Him.
- With God all things are possible.
- The power of God’s grace brings healing and wholeness.
- All persons have spiritual gifts that are to be used in ministry.
- The greatest gift is love.
- Love of God, others and self is necessary for healthy living.
- Peace and joy are God’s gifts of grace to all persons, and they are always attainable.
- All persons are called to be obedient to the word of God and His will as expressed in the Holy Bible.
- The Bible upholds the dignity of all women and calls them to ministry. Women are called to be witnesses to the Christian faith that sets all persons free and brings healing.
Celebration FAQs
Why Celebration?
God is calling women in the body of Christ into ministry to each other. It is a need that He sees, which is evidenced by the fact that He has begun moving women in that direction. The founders of Celebration simply recognized a work that God was already doing and felt called to join His ministry. Celebration serves as both an “umbrella” and foundation for women’s ministries in which the focus is salvation, healing, and equipping. By offering both speakers and studies in these three areas, Celebration meets the full range of women’s needs.
Why does Celebration stress worship?
Praise and worship is the heart of why we assemble as believers, for in worship we not only meditate on the goodness of God, we express our love and thanksgiving and celebrate with joy the wonder of His grace given to us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
How does it fit within the Methodist Church?
Celebration started as a women’s ministry under the Committee on Devotional Life of the Texas Annual Conference. It is designed to complement existing women’s ministries within local churches, not conflict with them.
How does Celebration function within the Methodist Church?
Celebration functions as an autonomous women’s ministry sanctioned by the Methodist Church. There is a denominational and inter-denominational aspect to Celebration. The ministry is sponsored by the Methodist Church and yet, invites the participation of women of all denominations, regardless of cultural or ethnic heritage.
What about funding and finances?
Celebration is not receiving any funding from Methodist Conferences or from other denominational sources. All expenses are currently being met through the receiving of offerings and donations. Celebration does not support any call for payment of dues and believes, instead, that all contributions should be gifts from the heart. This is a ministry that was created in response to God’s leading and stands in faith that He will provide as we follow in obedience.
How can women in the local church start a Celebration chapter?
Start a Celebration chapter by earnestly seeking God’s will and determining the commitment level of your church members. Then, meet regularly for praise and worship, and prayer.
Leadership training seminars are held on a regular basis and are conducted in various areas throughout the conference. Board members will also make themselves available to local churches for help and encouragement in implementing the ministry. Annual conference-wide Celebration retreats are also planned.
How is Celebration chartered in the local church?
A local charter for Celebration will be given at the end of three months if there is a clear call and commitment to serving Christ through the ministry of Celebration, full agreement with the statement of beliefs, goals and purposes of Celebration, approval of the pastor and the Council of Ministries, five to ten women willing and qualified to serve as officers that have been through training.
How is Celebration structured?
At the National level, there is a National Board consisting of ten to twelve women serving two-year terms. They oversee specific areas, such as praise and worship, prayer, training, etc. District Representatives serve as the liaison between the church chapters within their District and the National Board. Celebration in the local church should be led by a Celebration Chapter Board consisting of a president, vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary and treasurer. Cluster organizations of Celebration may be formed in which two or more churches work in partnership in this ministry. The charter requirements are the same.
Can women from other churches participate?
Yes! Any church can host a local chapter of Celebration when there is a clear call and commitment to serving Christ through the ministry of Celebration, full agreement with the statement of beliefs, the qualifications for leaders in Celebration as stated in our manual, approval of pastor, and five to ten women willing and qualified to serve as officers and team leaders who have attended Leadership Training.
See Starting a Celebration Chapter for further information (Go to Leadership to find the Manual). Some might choose to charter as Affiliate Chapters (See Affiliate Chapters in the same section of the Manual)
God is calling women in the body of Christ into ministry to each other. It is a need that He sees, which is evidenced by the fact that He has begun moving women in that direction. The founders of Celebration simply recognized a work that God was already doing and felt called to join His ministry. Celebration serves as both an “umbrella” and foundation for women’s ministries in which the focus is salvation, healing, and equipping. By offering both speakers and studies in these three areas, Celebration meets the full range of women’s needs.
Why does Celebration stress worship?
Praise and worship is the heart of why we assemble as believers, for in worship we not only meditate on the goodness of God, we express our love and thanksgiving and celebrate with joy the wonder of His grace given to us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
How does it fit within the Methodist Church?
Celebration started as a women’s ministry under the Committee on Devotional Life of the Texas Annual Conference. It is designed to complement existing women’s ministries within local churches, not conflict with them.
How does Celebration function within the Methodist Church?
Celebration functions as an autonomous women’s ministry sanctioned by the Methodist Church. There is a denominational and inter-denominational aspect to Celebration. The ministry is sponsored by the Methodist Church and yet, invites the participation of women of all denominations, regardless of cultural or ethnic heritage.
What about funding and finances?
Celebration is not receiving any funding from Methodist Conferences or from other denominational sources. All expenses are currently being met through the receiving of offerings and donations. Celebration does not support any call for payment of dues and believes, instead, that all contributions should be gifts from the heart. This is a ministry that was created in response to God’s leading and stands in faith that He will provide as we follow in obedience.
How can women in the local church start a Celebration chapter?
Start a Celebration chapter by earnestly seeking God’s will and determining the commitment level of your church members. Then, meet regularly for praise and worship, and prayer.
Leadership training seminars are held on a regular basis and are conducted in various areas throughout the conference. Board members will also make themselves available to local churches for help and encouragement in implementing the ministry. Annual conference-wide Celebration retreats are also planned.
How is Celebration chartered in the local church?
A local charter for Celebration will be given at the end of three months if there is a clear call and commitment to serving Christ through the ministry of Celebration, full agreement with the statement of beliefs, goals and purposes of Celebration, approval of the pastor and the Council of Ministries, five to ten women willing and qualified to serve as officers that have been through training.
How is Celebration structured?
At the National level, there is a National Board consisting of ten to twelve women serving two-year terms. They oversee specific areas, such as praise and worship, prayer, training, etc. District Representatives serve as the liaison between the church chapters within their District and the National Board. Celebration in the local church should be led by a Celebration Chapter Board consisting of a president, vice president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary and treasurer. Cluster organizations of Celebration may be formed in which two or more churches work in partnership in this ministry. The charter requirements are the same.
Can women from other churches participate?
Yes! Any church can host a local chapter of Celebration when there is a clear call and commitment to serving Christ through the ministry of Celebration, full agreement with the statement of beliefs, the qualifications for leaders in Celebration as stated in our manual, approval of pastor, and five to ten women willing and qualified to serve as officers and team leaders who have attended Leadership Training.
See Starting a Celebration Chapter for further information (Go to Leadership to find the Manual). Some might choose to charter as Affiliate Chapters (See Affiliate Chapters in the same section of the Manual)